Artesia Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Artesia, New Mexico 88210
Thursday, March 18, 2010 8:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While on final approach to land, the left engine lost power, the airplane suddenly swerved to the left, and the airplane's descent rate increased. The pilot attempted a go-around and switched from the main fuel tank to the auxiliary fuel tank. The airplane struck a wire and impacted the ground, breaking the left wing spar and separating the right engine from the wing. A postimpact fire ensued around the right engine. During the postaccident examination of the wreckage, fuel was found in the right main tank and both auxiliary tanks. The left main tank was found intact and empty. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane and no anomalies were found with the engines or other airplane systems that would have prevented normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's improper fuel management.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/18/2010
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 800
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Artesia
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 88210
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 315100n
Event Location Longitude 1042800w
Event Location Airport Artesia Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KATS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 755 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID ATS
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 5
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.14
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29212
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 3 2011 1:04PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3382Q
NTSB Number CEN10LA166
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 421B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 421B0265
Certified Max Gross Weight 7450
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 8
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 1 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EARLS AVIATION INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5822 CROMO DR STE 400
Aircraft Owner City EL PASO
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79912-5555
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name EARLS AVIATION INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 5822 CROMO DR STE 400
Operator City EL PASO
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 79912-5555
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ELP
Departure City El Paso
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 715
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KATS
Destination City Artesia
Destination State NM
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 18 2011 2:13PM
User who most recently changed record kaij
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 03
Runway Length 6301
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --